At 55, Geraldo Lunas Campos passed away in isolation, handcuffed and under U.S. state custody within a Texas immigration detention facility surrounded by desert. Initially, his family accepted the official narrative of an alleged suicide attempt. However, that explanation has since crumbled: a preliminary forensic report now reveals Lunas Campos died from asphyxia and his death is being classified as a homicide.
The incident, which took place on January 3, 2026, at Camp Montana East—a hastily constructed federal facility on Fort Bliss military base grounds—has taken a dramatic turn following the findings released by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office. The information, brought to light by The Associated Press (AP), starkly contradicts the initial account provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Official Narrative Unraveled
From the outset, ICE attempted to downplay the incident in its public communications. In a brief statement issued a week later, the agency mentioned that the detainee exhibited "disruptive behavior" while awaiting medication and, after refusing to return to his dormitory, was moved to isolation. Hours later, he was found distressed, prompting medical intervention, though he was ultimately pronounced dead by emergency services.
Notably absent from this account were any references to a physical altercation with security personnel, the use of force, or a chokehold—details that emerged following persistent inquiries by AP. On January 11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, revised its narrative, claiming Lunas Campos "attempted suicide" while in isolation and "violently resisted security staff." According to spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, it was during this struggle that Lunas Campos ceased breathing and lost consciousness.
Eyewitness Account Challenges Official Story
In stark contrast to the revised narrative is the account of Santos Jesús Flores, a 47-year-old Salvadoran detainee in a nearby isolation cell, who witnessed the incident. In an interview with AP, Flores recounted watching through his cell window as Lunas Campos was subdued by at least five guards, one of whom applied a chokehold.
"The last thing he said was that he couldn't breathe," Flores reported. "He didn't want to go into the cell." According to Flores, Lunas Campos was already handcuffed when he was taken down, and within about five minutes, his body stopped moving, at which point the handcuffs were removed.
Flores also noted that several detainees witnessed the event and security cameras were present, theoretically allowing for evidence verification. However, he has not been interviewed by investigators, nor has DHS confirmed whether footage has been reviewed. Despite the risks, Flores, who has agreed to voluntary deportation, felt compelled to speak out about the abuse occurring at the center.
Forensic Report Indicates Homicide
According to AP, which accessed a recording of the call between the medical examiner and the family, the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office informed them that the preliminary autopsy indicates death by neck and chest compression, classifying the incident as a homicide. This classification does not necessarily imply intent to kill but does establish that the actions of others led to the death.
Dr. Victor Weedn, a forensic pathologist consulted by AP, explained: "This likely meets the 'but for' test—meaning if not for the officers' actions, he wouldn't have died. For us, that's usually a homicide." Weedn acknowledged that there might be pressure to soften the forensic report, but he believes the El Paso office "will stand firm."
Background and Family Defense
Lunas Campos legally entered the United States in 1996 during a wave of Cuban migrants aiming for Florida. Settling in Rochester, New York, he faced several legal issues, including charges for sexual contact with a minor in 2003 and attempted drug trafficking in 2009, among others. These issues led to a final deportation order in 2005, though it couldn't be executed due to difficulties obtaining travel documentation from the Cuban government.
His family, however, has defended his memory. Kary Lunas, his 25-year-old eldest daughter, stated that the abuse allegations were a result of a custody dispute: "My father wasn't a pedophile," she said. "He was a good father. He was a human being." His ex-partner and mother of two of his children, Jeanette Pagán-López, affirmed that despite his past, Lunas Campos stayed in touch with his children and worked in a minimum-wage furniture store job, the only work available to him due to his record.
In his last family call after Christmas, he spoke of his imminent deportation to Cuba, asking his children to visit him on the island to maintain their bond. "He wasn't a bad guy. I just want justice and to bring his body here. That's all I want," said Pagán-López.
Bureaucratic Obstacles and Institutional Silence
After learning of her partner's death from the county morgue, Pagán-López reached out to ICE for explanations. She was informed that the only cost-free way to repatriate his body was through cremation, which she refused. Days later, a detainee contacted her and connected her to Santos Flores. Since then, she has been unable to reach ICE, and the FBI has not returned her calls despite taking her information twice.
Currently, she is attempting to raise funds to transport his body back to Rochester for a funeral. Meanwhile, the troubling question arises: what kind of facility is Camp Montana East?
The Nature of Camp Montana East
Camp Montana East, where Lunas Campos died, is part of a rapidly expanding network of temporary detention centers by the U.S. government. Built on military land as a quick solution to rising immigration detentions, it is projected to become the largest immigration detention center in the country, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. Alarmingly, management was outsourced to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a private firm based in a residential house in Virginia with no prior experience in prison administration.
To date, it remains unclear whether the implicated guards were government employees or private contractors, adding more uncertainty and potential legal loopholes in the chain of responsibility.
Understanding the Implications of Lunas Campos' Death
What led to Geraldo Lunas Campos' death being classified as a homicide?
The El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office classified his death as a homicide due to asphyxia caused by neck and chest compression, indicating the actions of others led to his death.
How does the eyewitness account contradict the official narrative?
Eyewitness Santos Jesús Flores reported seeing Lunas Campos subdued by guards, one of whom applied a chokehold, contradicting ICE's narrative of a suicide attempt without mentioning a physical altercation.
What is the significance of Camp Montana East in this case?
Camp Montana East is a rapidly expanded immigration detention facility managed by a private firm without prior experience, raising concerns about oversight and responsibility in cases like Lunas Campos'.